Florida leaders seek to reassure the public as confirmed coronavirus cases rattle the tourist haven
Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters on Monday that the state of Florida — which sees about 125 million tourists every year — is well equipped to deal with the threat of the highly contagious novel coronavirus, even as the state announced the first two cases Sunday night, with more expected.
State leaders, joined by a handful of local lawmakers on the fourth floor of Miami-Dade County’s Department of Health building, also shared new details on the latest development in Florida: the case of a Manatee County man in his 60s who had no relevant travel history to affected areas, indicating that the respiratory disease could be spreading undetected in the area.
The other case was a Hillsborough County woman in her 20s who had traveled recently to Italy. As of Monday evening, the Department of Health said it was awaiting 8 test results and monitoring 184 people for the coronavirus, also known as covid-19.
DeSantis said the Manatee County person had “a lot of underlying health conditions” and was in contact with several healthcare professionals before his diagnosis. Those individuals are now being monitored for potential infections, he said. The governor added that Doctors Hospital in Sarasota, where the patient is being cared for, has already expressed concern to them about the possibility of numerous staff members there getting sick.
“They could end up shorthanded,” said DeSantis, who had held a press conference earlier in the day in Tampa. “So I’m looking at ways to waive out-of-state requirements and help alleviate staffing issues.”
State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said the Manatee County man was hospitalized for five days before he was first tested for coronavirus, which came after federal health authorities expanded their criteria from those with travel history to affected areas to anyone who presented with severe respiratory symptoms of an unknown origin.
The broadening of who should be tested will mean a rush of new specimens to state labs, and DeSantis indicated he expected additional positive test results in coming days. Until Saturday, state labs did not have the ability to test for novel coronavirus, and federal guidelines on who would qualify for potential testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were narrower.
DeSantis said that the two positive cases announced over the weekend “were the first tests that were done in Florida.” State labs in Tallahassee, Miami and Tampa received new guidance on how to use the tests last week and started testing on Saturday.
DeSantis also mentioned that nursing homes and senior care facilities should be considering revising visitation guidelines and screening visitors who might be sick.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, fever or shortness of breath. There are simple steps people can take to reduce their risk of getting infected, like frequent handwashing, for more than 20 seconds, and staying home when sick.
Officials described the two patients as being in stable condition, and the immediate threat to Florida’s residents as being low. The governor issued an executive order on Sunday night, announcing the local cases and directing both a public health emergency and statewide response protocol for the virus.
State leaders asked that anyone who has traveled overseas to areas that have seen cases “self-isolate” for two weeks, staying at home and monitoring themselves for illness.
Dr. Shamarial Roberson, the state’s deputy secretary for health, said people who meet the new criteria for coronavirus testing can expect to submit three specimens for testing: an oral swab, a nasal swab and a saliva test. She said the tests “do not have a cost” and that the turnaround time on results stands at 24 to 48 hours now that state labs have testing capabilities.
Roberson added that the Florida Department of Health is working to get the testing kits directly into the hands of local physicians and healthcare facilities.
Rivkees, the state surgeon general, said it was still unclear how and when people start spreading the disease.
“This is a new virus that we are still learning about,” he said. “There’s a possibility of individuals spreading the virus before they become symptomatic.”
DeSantis expressed optimism that as influenza season abates with warmer weather, the novel coronavirus may slow down too. And even if a seasonal waning doesn’t happen for coronavirus, he added, fewer patients hospitalized with the flu would still free up crucial resources at South Florida hospitals. DeSantis said he has been in contact with Florida universities and colleges as students who are studying abroad might be planning on returning for spring break.
“If you’re coming back from a place in Italy that’s had an outbreak, stay at home,” DeSantis said. “Follow the instructions. Follow the guidance.”
DeSantis also assuaged concerns that local hospitals might run out of protective gear and other supplies, saying they have the ability to “surge” equipment from the CDC and that the state surgeon general has stockpiles as well. He said hospital capacity did not come up on a call he had earlier Monday with Vice President Mike Pence.
“Eighty percent of people won’t need to be hospitalized,” DeSantis said, of those who contract the novel coronavirus. “In terms of going to the hospital, we’re not recommending the average citizen, if they start coughing, to show up.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 3:53 PM with the headline "Florida leaders seek to reassure the public as confirmed coronavirus cases rattle the tourist haven."
